A Level Biology Practice Exam

Which statement best summarizes the role of secondary defenses in the body?

1. They prevent pathogens from entering the body.

2. They attack pathogens that manage to enter the body.

3. They produce antibodies before pathogens are present.

4. They alert the primary defenses to prepare for infection.

The correct answer is: They attack pathogens that manage to enter the body.

The role of secondary defenses in the body is to mount an immune response against pathogens that have successfully breached the primary defenses, such as the skin and mucous membranes. This level of defense is crucial because it focuses on identifying and neutralizing pathogens that enter the body. Secondary defenses include various components of the immune system, such as white blood cells and antibodies, which are specifically designed to recognize and destroy bacteria, viruses, and other foreign invaders. This response can involve processes like phagocytosis, where immune cells engulf and digest pathogens, as well as the production of antibodies that can neutralize or mark pathogens for destruction. The other statements reflect different aspects of the immune system's functioning: the first emphasizes prevention, which is the role of primary defenses, while the third focuses on the proactive production of antibodies rather than the response to existing infections. The fourth statement suggests an alert mechanism which pertains to how the immune system communicates and prepares but does not encapsulate the direct action taken after a pathogen has entered the body. Thus, the summary most accurately reflecting the function of secondary defenses is that they actively attack pathogens that manage to enter the body.